MOON PACT

~ALEXA~

Wiping away the blood that trickled out of my nose, I exhaled in frustration.

As in the case of my usually numerous and miserable attempts, my inner wolf was trolling me by being non existent. I was in the woods trying to do the same thing that yielded no results in the past fourteen years.

I was trying to find a way to shift. Trying to bring out my other half. By being the only werewolf in Hazel, I was as good as useless.

And no one hid it. I saw it in the eyes of the people when I passed by. I heard it in their whispers that they didn't even bother to suppress.

'Poor Alexa.'

'It's a pity. Would things have been different if her parents were still alive?'

'Don't look at her. She might be an abnormal and she might make your wolf disappear. I don't know why she's still in this pack.'

I chuckled grimly, remembering that last part. Yes, someone did say it. What baffled me was the person was old enough to be my mother.

Exhaling in exhaustion, I sat on a log of wood, ignoring the discomfort it made on my bare backside. My wristwatch was inside my discarded jeans, but I could still tell it was close to midnight. The croaking frogs and the chirping crickets were other signs that it was well late into the night.

I stood up and stretched, stifling a yawn squinting through my glasses. I hadn't taken them off during my attempt. I never did after the first time. Maybe it was because I partly expected nothing to come out of it. And big surprise, I was right. I clenched my fists and shook my head vehemently. No, I had to try one more time.

"Okay, Alexa." I took a deep breath, "you can do this. The tenth thousand time is the charm... I think."

Drawing in a deep breath, I shut my eyes.

"Come on." I clenched my teeth.

Again, nothing. Opening my eyes, I put my finger to my nose and as expected, I saw the blood.

"Damn it." I tucked a part of my hair behind my ear. "Why do I even bother?"

I picked up my discarded clothes and glared at the moon.

"You're having a kick out of this, aren't you?" I said.

It shimmered in response. If I was delirious, I would think it was grinning in mock fashion at me like the fabled Cheshire cat.

**********

"Alexa, by the moon goddess, where have you been?"

Lily, with a worried expression marring her round face, stood in front of my apartment.

"I've been...busy?" A strained smile appeared on my face.

"So busy that you couldn't pick your calls." Her eyebrows lifted. "I've been calling non-stop."

I retrieved my phone from my pocket and pressed a button. 15 missed calls popped up as a notification.

"Oh."

"You look terrible." Lily's red curls bounced as she shook her head slightly, worry reflecting in her grey eyes which searched my face and then spotted the tiny scratches on my arms. "You were in the woods again?"

"It's no big deal." With a slight shrug, I slowly moved past her and opened the gate. "They will heal."

Truly, the cuts would heal. The issue was that it would take few days for the process, unlike the other wolves in the pack that took hours, some even minutes, to heal from injuries.

Lily walked in after me and I closed the gate.

"Alexa." She inhaled deeply. "I know how much this really means to you. It may be hard to tell because we are not in similar circumstances, but trust me, I do."

She took my hand in hers and stared deeply into my eyes. "You just have to take it easy."

Squeezing her hands, I gave her a reassuring smile as a response. Lilian 'Lily' Marco was my best friend and one the only few werewolves who didn't treat me like the literal runt of the pack. We had been close as two peas in a pod for as long as I can remember, since her parents took me in after I lost mine. Funny thing is I could not remember what my parents even looked like. From what I was told, I was four years old when the flood came. My parents had dropped me off at Lily's to play. Afterwards, they went on an expedition with the Alpha, Beta and their families to sort out an issue that arose in a neighboring pack. Then came the flood and it claimed their lives, leaving my pack without an Alpha and Beta and rendering me an orphan.

"Are you okay?" Lily's touch on my shoulder brought jolted me to reality. "Do you need a check up?"

While I worked in the university library, Lily was a nurse in the pack hospital. A profession took in hope of walking in her father's footsteps. The latter happened to be one of the best doctors around.

"I'm fine, Lily," I responded. Stretching a bit, I advanced towards the staircase."Maybe a bit of rest would help out."

"I hope my timing isn't wrong, then." She followed behind. "Because the family wants to see you."

"Really?" I paused, turning around. "No issues, I hope."

"At all." She shook her head. "Mom's just missed you. You know how she can be when she doesn't see either of us for more than a week."

We shared a light hearted laughter.

"And your dad?" I asked.

"Of course he's looking forward to seeing you, too." Lily scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Even though he did not say it. He thinks it would spoil his tough exterior."

"He doesn't need to." I chuckled and ascended the stairs. "I'll be out soon. Give me a moment to take a shower."

She gave a thumbs up in response and moved to sit on the couch.

In my room, the little trace of happiness vanished from my face as I undressed and stood in front of the mirror. A pale imitation of myself stared back at me. A thin bag of bones, littered with scars all over her body from numerous days of failed attempt at finding her wolf. Visible cheekbones, crooked nose and dark circles under her sky blue eyes hidden behind a pair of oversized spectacles were what formed her face. Flat chest and narrow hips completed the rest of her body. The mirror never lied. Maybe this was what I was meant to be forever.

"Alexa!" Lily tapped on the door and I jumped, placing a hand over my heart. "I'm not hearing the sounds of water. You better hop in to the bathroom."

"Okay, Mrs. boss lady!" I hollered back.

Hearing her retreating footsteps, I hopped into the shower.

A quick bath and change of clothes later, I stepped into the living room. Lily lay on the sofa reading one of my novels.

"Okay then, let's go." I announced.

"About time." She tossed the novel away.

As soon as we walked out the door, I shivered a bit.

"Are you okay?" Lily glanced sideways at me. "You know we can go back inside and get a coat."

"No need to." I waved off her suggestion.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's just a little cold. Nothing I can't handle."

"Well...Okay."

We took off, walking side by side along the street and somehow, I was able to shrug the cold off. Lily would send worried glances my way at intervals, but I would respond with a shake of the head.

"How's work?" She finally found something to take us out of the situation.

"As well as it can go." I shrugged. "You?"

A deep scowl marred her beautiful facial features. "Awful! I could have sworn it's mating season today. Three men came over me to check their temperature but It was just an attempt to hot on me."

"Who could blame them?" I said, scanning her from head to toe. With her attractive profile which boasted of curly red hair, deep grey eyes, button nose and full lips, toppled with a curvy figure, she was a beacon for any hot blooded werewolf. "At least, you have people hitting on you."

Lily paused momentarily, taking note of my hollow gaze.

"Oh, I didn't mean..." Her face heated up in a bashful fashion. " I wasn't trying to..."

"It's okay." I placed a hand on her shoulder calm her down. "Hey, you're beautiful, you should be proud of the attention you're getting."

"You know you need to stop this self pity." She squeezed my hand gently. "Alexa, you're perfect."

"Tell that to the remaining ninety percent of our pack." My smile turned grim.

"They are just misunderstood and misguided."

"Even the adults and elders?"

"Yes, as weird as it may sound."

I found myself giggling and Lily joined along.

"And besides," She rolled her eyes, "I don't even want that kind of attention I got today. It's more like it's fueled by their hormones. Anyone who is not my mate chosen by the goddess that is thinking of getting into my panties is just wasting his time."

We both burst into fits of laughter again. I wiped the tears out of my eyes. Moments like this was what I cherished. The fact that something could bring a smile to my face.

Her parent's house came into view. Approaching the door, Lily pressed the doorbell.

"Sweet potatoes, veggies and meat." Lily sniffed the air. "Mom's in the zone today."

The door opened before I could respond and Mrs. Marco stood on the other side. A mirror image of her daughter, I would have mistaken them as twins if not for the slight wrinkles at the edge of her eyes and the sides of her red hair that was recently greying.

"Alexa!" Her face broke into a smile pulled me in a hug. "It's been ages."

"Good to see you, ma'am." I patted her back. It was two weeks since I saw her last but I dare not correct her exaggeration.

She pulled away and observed me from head to toe, her face twisting into a concerned frown.

"By the goddess, you look like you've lost a lot weight! What's happening?"

"There's no issue, ma'am." I smiled softly. "I've just been busy."

"Too busy to eat?" Her gaze was incredulous. "We can't have that here. Luckily, you're just in time. Come in, dearie. Lily, good job bringing her here."

"Mom, you're blowing things out of proportion." Lily shook her head in mild amusement

"Oh, nonsense."

Lily and I walked in and she closed the door.

"Dad?" Lily queried.

"In the living room." Mrs. Marco pointed towards the doorway to the mentioned area. "Alexa, you can make yourself comfortable and get set for dinner. Lily, come with me to the kitchen and let's get dinner ready."

The two redheads advanced to the kitchen while I took the opposite direction, following the sounds coming from the television in the living room.

Dr. Marco's slightly stout frame could be seen from behind the couch as he watched a program. He straightened a bit and turned around, his face lighten up with recognition as he saw me.

"Alexa," he said. "Long time no see. How have you been?"

"Alright, sir." I nodded casually.

Running his hands through his thick brown hair, he stood up and stretched. I could hear a few cracks and he winced a bit. "Goddess, I needed that."

Before I could make a statement, his brown eyes narrowed.

"Are you okay?" he said.

"Yeah?" I replied hesitantly. "Why?"

"There are scratches on your hands." He pointed.

I glanced downwards.

'Damn it,' I thought. 'I should have worn gloves.'

He approached me and examined my wrist. "You were in the woods?"

"Yes." Lying was not even an option at that point.

Dr. Marco released a long sigh of exhaustion. "Alexa..."

"I know, sir," I said. "I know. I'll try to be more careful."

Releasing his hold on my wrist, he placed his hands on my shoulders like a father would.

"I know I'm one of the advocates of never giving up," he said, "but for the love of the moon goddess, please know when the limit of your health is being tested. It doesn't please me to see these scars on you."

"I understand, sir."

A ghost of a smile appeared on his face for a millisecond. "Good. Come on, dinner is about to be served."

I followed him to the dining table and we each took a seat. My stomach rumbled a bit as my nose detected the sweet aroma emanating from the kitchen. I glanced up to an amused glint in the eyes of the doctor and a proud smile on his face, no doubt from his wife's cooking. Mrs. Marco and Lily emerged from the kitchen, each carrying a tray, containing the dishes.

"There we go." Mrs Marco beamed, setting the food on the table. Minutes later, we sat down to eat.

The delicious dinner erased all my mental troubles I had accumulated throughout the day . I glanced up and saw Lily laugh at something her father said. Mrs. Marco followed suit, placing her hand lightly on his arm. Despite the small smile that made its way to my face, my heart was filled with something I couldn't fanthom. A strange sense of longing.

"There is something I heard at the hospital today. Dr. Marco cleared his throat. "The king of the white kingdom is paying a visit soon."

"King Christopher?" Mrs. Marco's eyebrows raised a bit. "That's a name I haven't heard of in the last ten years."

"Yes." The doctor nodded. "Apparently, he's coming with his family and an entourage."

"Any reason why?"

Dr. Marco dabbed his lips with a napkin. "From the few details I gathered from my colleague, it has to do with some sort of donation. The white kingdom and Hazel pack go way back and I think the king's intension must be based on our pack's situation."

He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "After all, we are still without an Alpha."

I felt like my heart was struck by a stone. The Alpha's demise was a sensitive subject, considering who died along with him.

Dr. Marco spotted my expression and his eyes widened a bit. "Sorry, Alexa. I forgot..."

"It's okay, sir." I forced a smile.

A few minutes of silence that followed proved it wasn't.

"So when are they coming?" Lily said to her dad. The discreet warm smile she sent my way was appreciated. Anything to get out of the awkward tension that hung in the air.

"On the 30th of this month." Dr. Marco slipped a piece of food into his mouth and chewed slowly.

"That's on a full moon." Mrs Marco said.

"Yeah." Lily nodded slowly. "Kind of convenient."

"It may symbolize something." Dr. Marco shrugged through another mouthful.

I dug into my food. For all I hoped, it would better be.